Prayut willing to testify on 2010 crackdown

[webfact]

2010 CRACKDOWN
Prayut ready to testify in Abhisit impeachment case
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said that he was ready to testify before the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) as defence witness for Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva in his impeachment case over alleged mishandling of the 2010 bloody crackdown.

Prayut was responding to Abhisit's comment to reporters on Wednesday, in which he said that Prayut - who was deputy Army chief at the time - former defence minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and former Army chief General Anupong Paochinda understood the situation well. He also said their testimony would be useful, but he was not certain if they were prepared to be his witnesses.

Prayut said he might only submit a written testimony.

The NACC on Tuesday resolved to push for the impeachment of Abhisit and his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, citing that the two did not review or adjust tactics used by military personnel to disperse demonstrators, which led to many deaths and left many injured.

Prayut hinted that Abhisit could escape impeachment if he could prove that there were armed men among the protesters.

"May I ask if there were armed men among the people. Yes or no? Were there 'men in black' among the red shirts? And was there someone firing at soldiers? If there were, then it is over," Prayut said.

He made the remark after reporters asked if he believed this case would put the Army in the hot seat, as Abhisit had named the three top military men Prayut, Anupong and Prawit in his case.

The Democrat leader had said his government would have been charged with dereliction of duty if did nothing at a time when some protesters were resorting to heavy arms.

Asked if the NACC probe against Abhisit and Suthep would help clear allegations that the government was "hunting down" only one political camp, Prayut rejected the allegation. "It is not a one-sided hunt as alleged. Who are accused of wrongdoings? Those who can clear allegations against them, they are acquitted,"Prayut said.

NACC secretary-general Sansern Poljiak said the agency had yet to send a formal writ to Abhisit and Suthep as it was still awaiting endorsement of the impeachment resolution by all NACC members.

Once the two receive the writ, they have to submit a defence statement or defend themselves before the NACC within 15 days. He said both were ready to address the allegations against them.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Prayut-ready-to-testify-in-Abhisit-impeachment-cas-30254953.html


-- The Nation 2015-02-27

[joesanunu]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Somebody has been reading The Nation (and believing the crap they print)

[joesanunu]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Live fire zones set up in the middle of the city, over 100,00 live rounds fired by the army and over 2,500 high velocity sniper rounds fired, over 90 people murdered (including those cowering in the temple) and several thousands injured - nothing to hide?

How is it that the Yellows (PAD, PITAK SIAM, PDRC) have spent far more time protesting in the streets (and airport) yet the military has never felt the need to go out and slaughter them?

Anarchy is not acceptable? <deleted> was it that Suthep and his merry mob of Southern thugs were doing? Your double standards defy logic.

People in the streets fighting for their freedom get massacred by their own military and you side with the killers - despicable.

Agreed.

[smedly]

All of this really comes down to one thing - The operational orders given to the Police/army at the time

I'm pretty sure they were documented and will be critical evidence as to whether there is a case to answer here or not

[bobmac10]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Live fire zones set up in the middle of the city, over 100,00 live rounds fired by the army and over 2,500 high velocity sniper rounds fired, over 90 people murdered (including those cowering in the temple) and several thousands injured - nothing to hide?

How is it that the Yellows (PAD, PITAK SIAM, PDRC) have spent far more time protesting in the streets (and airport) yet the military has never felt the need to go out and slaughter them?

Anarchy is not acceptable? <deleted> was it that Suthep and his merry mob of Southern thugs were doing? Your double standards defy logic.

People in the streets fighting for their freedom get massacred by their own military and you side with the killers - despicable.

so you would rather the red terrorists just have open slather on killing, blowing up, burning down Bangkok and everyone just sit around and watch them. What sort of drop kick calls for terrorism to be allowed to flourish so one man(thaksin) can get his wa, everyone knows the reds(and black shirts) were using the same weapons, without ballistic results no one knows who killed who. Trying to put the yellows into this is pathetic too, as they werent involved plus they did not open fire on people, try to burn down the city or blow it up, it was purely the reds/ptp scum, as usual the red apologists are trying to blame those that had nothing to do with this crap. Really should try to use facts and not your red propaganda

If the democratically elected government that I supported had been removed in a military coup and supplanted with another of the opposite political leaning, which then promised to hold elections but never did, I would be out there too, burning, shooting whatever.

This only happens when facists overtake a democratically elected government and they only have themselves to blame for all the violence that followed.

This general is right behind it all.

[dorayme]

One does not need to read The Nation to know what happened. If you were living in Thailand at the time it was easy to see the carnage done by the Red Armies and the battle ground they made in Bangkok and other cities.

[joesanunu]

The Australia National University of Asian Studies has published some informative videos on the crackdown.

Mr Dezmond Ball an expert on SEAsian security was interviewed here:

[joesanunu]

One does not need to read The Nation to know what happened. If you were living in Thailand at the time it was easy to see the carnage done by the Red Armies and the battle ground they made in Bangkok and other cities.

Sad. Some people read the news that's "allowed" to be published.

The stuff they are hiding. That's the good stuff.

[casualbiker]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Live fire zones set up in the middle of the city, over 100,00 live rounds fired by the army and over 2,500 high velocity sniper rounds fired, over 90 people murdered (including those cowering in the temple) and several thousands injured - nothing to hide?

How is it that the Yellows (PAD, PITAK SIAM, PDRC) have spent far more time protesting in the streets (and airport) yet the military has never felt the need to go out and slaughter them?

Anarchy is not acceptable? <deleted> was it that Suthep and his merry mob of Southern thugs were doing? Your double standards defy logic.

People in the streets fighting for their freedom get massacred by their own military and you side with the killers - despicable.

so you would rather the red terrorists just have open slather on killing, blowing up, burning down Bangkok and everyone just sit around and watch them. What sort of drop kick calls for terrorism to be allowed to flourish so one man(thaksin) can get his wa, everyone knows the reds(and black shirts) were using the same weapons, without ballistic results no one knows who killed who. Trying to put the yellows into this is pathetic too, as they werent involved plus they did not open fire on people, try to burn down the city or blow it up, it was purely the reds/ptp scum, as usual the red apologists are trying to blame those that had nothing to do with this crap. Really should try to use facts and not your red propaganda

If the democratically elected government that I supported had been removed in a military coup and supplanted with another of the opposite political leaning, which then promised to hold elections but never did, I would be out there too, burning, shooting whatever.

This only happens when facists overtake a democratically elected government and they only have themselves to blame for all the violence that followed.

This general is right behind it all.

One problem.. There were elections. The Shinawatras won and then their party was dissolved along with a few others for election corruption. Then because Somchai hadn't dissolved Parliament the new PM was put to a vote . Abhisit won, he being an elected MP. THIS is exactly how Somchai became PM. HE wasn't elected by the people (he was party list)

Also just before the main troubles. Abhisit started talks with the leaders of the UDD he thought they had secured a compromise that everyone was happy with .. Unfortunately an 11th hour phone call from abroad scuppered that !

If he had just dissolved Parliament then there would have been the same mess we saw with Yinglucks government, no process to ensure payment of existing schemes !

One person is ultimately to blame for the chaos seen the past 9 years and that's Thaksin.

Edited February 27, 2015 by casualbiker

[oneday]

"...as defence witness for Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva in his impeachment case..."

Well there you have it. He is a defense witness and the current head of the country. Let's see, Prayut, Abhisit, NACC all on the same side of the fence. Anyone care to guess the outcome of this case?

[smedly]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Live fire zones set up in the middle of the city, over 100,00 live rounds fired by the army and over 2,500 high velocity sniper rounds fired, over 90 people murdered (including those cowering in the temple) and several thousands injured - nothing to hide?

How is it that the Yellows (PAD, PITAK SIAM, PDRC) have spent far more time protesting in the streets (and airport) yet the military has never felt the need to go out and slaughter them?

Anarchy is not acceptable? <deleted> was it that Suthep and his merry mob of Southern thugs were doing? Your double standards defy logic.

People in the streets fighting for their freedom get massacred by their own military and you side with the killers - despicable.

What on earth are you going on about, do you know the difference between an assault rifle and a microphone

In a normal society everyone has the right to protest - it is not Anarchy until it becomes Anarchy - should the yellowshirts at the time have blocked the airport - probably not, did they kill anyone or were they armed - no, should they have been removed by riot police - well probably yes, what has this to do with the armed uprising in 2010 - absolutely nothing

The failure in almost every post you have made on this thread is to recognise the difference between peaceful demonstration no matter how big (no matter what form it takes) and a lethally armed uprising - the approach to deal with each situation will be vastly different - if you cannot recognise that then you are either just plain stupid or have an agenda

As soon as it was established that some of the redshirt protestors in 2010 were armed and active then that was a game changer, after that people there had a choice - leave and be safe - stay and be part of it and risk being shot

When someone aims and fires an assault rifle and misses the target you then have a high velocity bullet on the loose, where it ends up is quite frankly in the lap of the gods, taking one example were a nurse was shot dead in a temple - did the army target her and shoot her - personally I very much doubt that, if they did then they should be in court facing murder charges, did armed men run to the temple for cover after shooting at the army or were they shooting from the temple - I believe they did and the nurse that was shot was not specifically targeted - she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time

I personally have experience of civil unrest at a level similar or worse to that of 2010 in Bangkok and one thing I know for sure regardless - if someone points a gun at me I will do my very best to shoot them dead without a second thought and remove the threat to myself and others - it is that simple

[lucky11]

i dont know, but it looks to me he said he is willing to testify, but he wont show up.

He isn't required to as a written statement is sufficient.

Good news too that his words will clear Abhisit and Suthep as the 'reds' were instrumental in their own deaths in ignoring warnings and from remaining there when the 'men-in-black' (that did exist as is generally acknowledged now), decided to take the action up a level or two and started attacking soldiers and innocent civilians in a hit and run incident that led to the army being told to use live bullets in order to DEFEND themselves from these mercenaries.

Those ignorant people that think that the leaders desperately trying to disperse the protesters were meant to just sit there and do nothing about it when the bullets were flying are deluded as this would have led to total carnage and the death of many more people (soldiers, civilians, protesters) had this not been stopped when it was!!!

It is regrettable that so many people lost their lives - but if you want to know who should be brought to account for the slaughter, then stand up Thaksin as you have another 90 deaths to add to your many other murderous actions that I'm sure that everyone is familiar with by now!! He is the guilty one, concerned only about himself and not concerned about others that inexplicably give up their lives to serve this despicable and evil creature.

[bkkgooner]

I have no doubt that the army did some really shady stuff during that crackdown just a brief glance at their history in dealing with situations like this shows us that

What happened at that Wat for example is utterly unforgivable

I honestly have softened a lot in the past year in my stance towards the red shirts and I think the truth is that there is a significant amount of blood on the hands of both sides. I believe that Abhisit probably didn't have much say at all in the shadier aspects of the crackdown and that for any sort of meaningful reconciliation to take place the army needs to be stripped of a significant amount of its power because the truth of the matter is that for the past 80 odd years they have owned this country

The fact that he is speaking already of submitting a written statement speaks volumes

[klauskunkel]

Prayut hinted that Abhisit could escape impeachment if he could prove that there were armed men among the protesters.

Did the defense witness just prejudice the case?

...no he didn't. Case closed.

[lucky11]

"...as defence witness for Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva in his impeachment case..."

Well there you have it. He is a defense witness and the current head of the country. Let's see, Prayut, Abhisit, NACC all on the same side of the fence. Anyone care to guess the outcome of this case?

Yes!! They will rightly be found innocent with the impeachment charges dropped as they are not justified being that they were simply doing their job in dispersing the protesters and countering the 'men in black' who were shooting either randomly or at the soldiers (doing their duty)!!

The NACC are on the other side of the fence BTW as they have brought the charges against Abhisit and Suthep.

[Baerboxer]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Live fire zones set up in the middle of the city, over 100,00 live rounds fired by the army and over 2,500 high velocity sniper rounds fired, over 90 people murdered (including those cowering in the temple) and several thousands injured - nothing to hide?

How is it that the Yellows (PAD, PITAK SIAM, PDRC) have spent far more time protesting in the streets (and airport) yet the military has never felt the need to go out and slaughter them?

Anarchy is not acceptable? <deleted> was it that Suthep and his merry mob of Southern thugs were doing? Your double standards defy logic.

People in the streets fighting for their freedom get massacred by their own military and you side with the killers - despicable.

so you would rather the red terrorists just have open slather on killing, blowing up, burning down Bangkok and everyone just sit around and watch them. What sort of drop kick calls for terrorism to be allowed to flourish so one man(thaksin) can get his wa, everyone knows the reds(and black shirts) were using the same weapons, without ballistic results no one knows who killed who. Trying to put the yellows into this is pathetic too, as they werent involved plus they did not open fire on people, try to burn down the city or blow it up, it was purely the reds/ptp scum, as usual the red apologists are trying to blame those that had nothing to do with this crap. Really should try to use facts and not your red propaganda

If the democratically elected government that I supported had been removed in a military coup and supplanted with another of the opposite political leaning, which then promised to hold elections but never did, I would be out there too, burning, shooting whatever.

This only happens when facists overtake a democratically elected government and they only have themselves to blame for all the violence that followed.

This general is right behind it all.

Hmmm. You missed a few bits. The party in government were dissolved by the courts due to election fraud. The opposition were asked to form a government, a PM elected by parliament and appropriately endorsed, all in accordance with the law.

Protest leaders and the government negotiated an agreed date for a new election, The protest leaders then defaulted on that agreement and violence suddenly escalated, including the mysterious men in black. Remember them, the criminals shooting at security forces and bystanders? Chalerm used to say they were a mysterious third hand, that is on the day's when he didn't claim they never existed,

This only happens when a democratically elected government turns out to be a front for a criminal fugitive who wants to continue his crimes from a safe haven,

[smedly]

you know what really annoys me about topics like this

People come on here and argue about elections and deposed governments and democracy falling apart etc etc all of which have absolutely nothing to do with what happened in 2010, it is somehow an attempt to justify the reshirts and their actions - so lets get one thing straight here - there is absolutely no justification for what the redshirt terrorists did in 2010 ......period

Did they have a right to peaceful protest .................yes they did just like the people protesting in Bangkok last year - but lets be very clear - that is not what happened in 2010 - it was nothing short of a Thaksin funded armed uprising - and Thaksin is the person that should be answering charges in a court and quite frankly is also responsible for the deaths of innocent protestors last year too - paying for his terrorist redshirt hit squads - all the while he sits by his pool in Dubai with his stolen billions from the Thai people while he orchestrates these evil deeds

[Baerboxer]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Quite correct. Prayuth and his men showed true fortitude and patience in the face of those brutal terrorists even when they were questioned as to why they were being too tolerant of them. Ahbisit was even being questioned over his control of the army as they were a force with no teeth in the outset when they used rubber bullets and water cannons against military grade weapons...

In Brisbane, Australia a man with a knife enters the Queen Street Mall while everyone is trying to go about there business and THAT IS WHEN the police come in and used live fire.

In Bangkok, Thailand brutal terrorists threaten to blow up LPG truck, perform grenade attacks at Thai banks, attacked Thai charity with grenades, stormed parliament, attacked NPP and TPI buildings with M16 and grenades, (this was around the time tear gas and rubber bullets were fired by the soldiers), stormed police hospital, stormed TV station (people started questioning Ahbisits control of the soldiers after the lack of resistance they offered the terrorists on this occasion), bomb attacks on electricity pylons, 2 police taken hostage, destroyed CCTV cameras and dumped tyres on sky train tracks and THAT IS WHEN the army came in and used live fire.

Of coarse the UDD want you to believe that people with flowers in their hair were signing kombaya around a camp fire while a guitarist wearing a peace symbol necklace with long braided hair was being slaughtered by a weapon firing 300 bullets a second in the merciless grip of a huge demonizing muscle bound soldier that has fire in his eyes and a vendetta to kill as many innocent people as he can.

Prayuth testifying will only make the brutal UDD terrorists look worse than they already look.

The Reds were totally surrounded ... they couldn't get out to put anything on skytrain tracks ... I think you believe the yellow propaganda

Maybe you should give up on the red propaganda and history whitewashes. Check who lobbed grenades at a BTS station resulting in death.

Or invaded and terrorized a hospital. Or who harassed expats going about their lawful business demanding to search them and trying to seize their passports.

Must have been "plants" dressed in red or black eh? Nice kind peace loving champions of Thaksin's democracy would never do anything like that.

[joesanunu]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Quite correct. Prayuth and his men showed true fortitude and patience in the face of those brutal terrorists even when they were questioned as to why they were being too tolerant of them. Ahbisit was even being questioned over his control of the army as they were a force with no teeth in the outset when they used rubber bullets and water cannons against military grade weapons...

In Brisbane, Australia a man with a knife enters the Queen Street Mall while everyone is trying to go about there business and THAT IS WHEN the police come in and used live fire.

In Bangkok, Thailand brutal terrorists threaten to blow up LPG truck, perform grenade attacks at Thai banks, attacked Thai charity with grenades, stormed parliament, attacked NPP and TPI buildings with M16 and grenades, (this was around the time tear gas and rubber bullets were fired by the soldiers), stormed police hospital, stormed TV station (people started questioning Ahbisits control of the soldiers after the lack of resistance they offered the terrorists on this occasion), bomb attacks on electricity pylons, 2 police taken hostage, destroyed CCTV cameras and dumped tyres on sky train tracks and THAT IS WHEN the army came in and used live fire.

Of coarse the UDD want you to believe that people with flowers in their hair were signing kombaya around a camp fire while a guitarist wearing a peace symbol necklace with long braided hair was being slaughtered by a weapon firing 300 bullets a second in the merciless grip of a huge demonizing muscle bound soldier that has fire in his eyes and a vendetta to kill as many innocent people as he can.

Prayuth testifying will only make the brutal UDD terrorists look worse than they already look.

The Reds were totally surrounded ... they couldn't get out to put anything on skytrain tracks ... I think you believe the yellow propaganda

Maybe you should give up on the red propaganda and history whitewashes. Check who lobbed grenades at a BTS station resulting in death.

Or invaded and terrorized a hospital. Or who harassed expats going about their lawful business demanding to search them and trying to seize their passports.

Must have been "plants" dressed in red or black eh? Nice kind peace loving champions of Thaksin's democracy would never do anything like that.

Did they actually terrorise a hospital or did the yellow side put the hospital in danger by deploying snipers? The hospital has a birds view of the protest site.

Across the road, there were snipers inside the Dusit Thani.

I think the director of that hospital would agree to have snipers. It's the same hospital that refused to treat red shirt victims that were shot by the yellow side the year before.

Why would the protesters go and harass sick people for no reason?

Edited February 27, 2015 by joesanunu

[Mot Dang]

He knows which side of his bread is buttered. He does not want to fall foul of Abhisit's boss.

[brucec64]

"...as defence witness for Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva in his impeachment case..."

Well there you have it. He is a defense witness and the current head of the country. Let's see, Prayut, Abhisit, NACC all on the same side of the fence. Anyone care to guess the outcome of this case?

I agree. Prayut weighing in on these cases will impact the judicial decision. Any judge would be foolhardy to ignore these not so subtle "hints".

Abhisit will get a pass:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Prayut-ready-to-testify-in-Abhisit-impeachment-cas-30254953.html

Prayut hinted that Abhisit could escape impeachment if he could prove that there were armed men among the protesters.

"May I ask if there were armed men among the people. Yes or no? Were there 'men in black' among the red shirts? And was there someone firing at soldiers? If there were, then it is over," Prayut said.

Yingluck will not be so lucky:

http://currentbuzz.my/News/A-Prisoner-in-her-Own-Land-Yingluck

Gen Prayut has urged Yingluck to step forward and prove her claims of innocence in the face of the charge against her of dereliction of duty in the rice-pledging scheme.

Prayut has already ruled on the outcome of both cases. So much for rule of law, this is rule of one.

Edited February 27, 2015 by brucec64

[FangFerang]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

In your never ending quest to outdo yourself for insipidly mis-inferring anything that criticizes your sordid heroes, congratulations. You moved down from sea slug to amoeba!

here's your sign.

PS: Did anyone else notice that Costas is always the first one to comment on any story that might criticize the junta...just a coincidence, I am sure.

[FangFerang]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Live fire zones set up in the middle of the city, over 100,00 live rounds fired by the army and over 2,500 high velocity sniper rounds fired, over 90 people murdered (including those cowering in the temple) and several thousands injured - nothing to hide?

How is it that the Yellows (PAD, PITAK SIAM, PDRC) have spent far more time protesting in the streets (and airport) yet the military has never felt the need to go out and slaughter them?

Anarchy is not acceptable? <deleted> was it that Suthep and his merry mob of Southern thugs were doing? Your double standards defy logic.

People in the streets fighting for their freedom get massacred by their own military and you side with the killers - despicable.

Amazing number of shots fired by trained army and trained snipers, and so few people injured or killed.???

Over 100,00 live rounds fired by the army and over 2,500 high velocity sniper rounds fired, over 90 people murdered (including those cowering in the temple) and several thousands injured.

Dad's Army would have a better success rate than that or is a Red Shirt supporter telling porkies again

Here is a fact

On 17 May, Thai military helicopters dropped leaflets on the Red Shirt's main encampment, urging them to leave. The Red Shirts responded by firing homemade rockets at the helicopters.

Here is a fact

You cherry pick all your facts, avoid any facts that cannot fit into your fairy tale logic, and side with the royalists even when they kill their own.

[Just1Voice]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Live fire zones set up in the middle of the city, over 100,00 live rounds fired by the army and over 2,500 high velocity sniper rounds fired, over 90 people murdered (including those cowering in the temple) and several thousands injured - nothing to hide?

How is it that the Yellows (PAD, PITAK SIAM, PDRC) have spent far more time protesting in the streets (and airport) yet the military has never felt the need to go out and slaughter them?

Anarchy is not acceptable? <deleted> was it that Suthep and his merry mob of Southern thugs were doing? Your double standards defy logic.

People in the streets fighting for their freedom get massacred by their own military and you side with the killers - despicable.

What on earth are you going on about, do you know the difference between an assault rifle and a microphone

In a normal society everyone has the right to protest - it is not Anarchy until it becomes Anarchy - should the yellowshirts at the time have blocked the airport - probably not, did they kill anyone or were they armed - no, should they have been removed by riot police - well probably yes, what has this to do with the armed uprising in 2010 - absolutely nothing

The failure in almost every post you have made on this thread is to recognise the difference between peaceful demonstration no matter how big (no matter what form it takes) and a lethally armed uprising - the approach to deal with each situation will be vastly different - if you cannot recognise that then you are either just plain stupid or have an agenda

As soon as it was established that some of the redshirt protestors in 2010 were armed and active then that was a game changer, after that people there had a choice - leave and be safe - stay and be part of it and risk being shot

When someone aims and fires an assault rifle and misses the target you then have a high velocity bullet on the loose, where it ends up is quite frankly in the lap of the gods, taking one example were a nurse was shot dead in a temple - did the army target her and shoot her - personally I very much doubt that, if they did then they should be in court facing murder charges, did armed men run to the temple for cover after shooting at the army or were they shooting from the temple - I believe they did and the nurse that was shot was not specifically targeted - she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time

I personally have experience of civil unrest at a level similar or worse to that of 2010 in Bangkok and one thing I know for sure regardless - if someone points a gun at me I will do my very best to shoot them dead without a second thought and remove the threat to myself and others - it is that simple

did they kill anyone or were they armed - no

You should do some more serious reading. The Yellow Guards at the airport were ALL armed. They attacked and shot up police vehicles, and even a news truck. Did they kill anyone? Why don't you ask the family of the dead Yellow who was found in a back room of the airport, wrapped in plastic and canvas, and then stashed away. When they took over Gvt House, they armed themselves with anything and everything they could get their hands on. One of their "supporters" was killed when explosives they were carrying detonated.

During the last protests, there were countless reports of PDRM (yellow) thug guards beating and shooting innocent people for something as simple as moving a cone out of the way. Peaceful? Oh, yeah, that sounds like a real peaceful group.

I'm not taking the Red side, but some of you seriously seem to think the Yellows all stood around holding hands and singing songs, when the reality is that they were, and are, just as violent as the Reds. Unfortunately, those wearing yellow tinted glasses and see this, and won't accept it as truth to their ears.

[FangFerang]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Live fire zones set up in the middle of the city, over 100,00 live rounds fired by the army and over 2,500 high velocity sniper rounds fired, over 90 people murdered (including those cowering in the temple) and several thousands injured - nothing to hide?

How is it that the Yellows (PAD, PITAK SIAM, PDRC) have spent far more time protesting in the streets (and airport) yet the military has never felt the need to go out and slaughter them?

Anarchy is not acceptable? <deleted> was it that Suthep and his merry mob of Southern thugs were doing? Your double standards defy logic.

People in the streets fighting for their freedom get massacred by their own military and you side with the killers - despicable.

so you would rather the red terrorists just have open slather on killing, blowing up, burning down Bangkok and everyone just sit around and watch them. What sort of drop kick calls for terrorism to be allowed to flourish so one man(thaksin) can get his wa, everyone knows the reds(and black shirts) were using the same weapons, without ballistic results no one knows who killed who. Trying to put the yellows into this is pathetic too, as they werent involved plus they did not open fire on people, try to burn down the city or blow it up, it was purely the reds/ptp scum, as usual the red apologists are trying to blame those that had nothing to do with this crap. Really should try to use facts and not your red propaganda

The violence started after the army, operating for another Unelected government, opened fire. Stop reading yellow propaganda. It's like getting science from wikipedia...

[joesanunu]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

In your never ending quest to outdo yourself for insipidly mis-inferring anything that criticizes your sordid heroes, congratulations. You moved down from sea slug to amoeba!

here's your sign.

PS: Did anyone else notice that Costas is always the first one to comment on any story that might criticize the junta...just a coincidence, I am sure.

He must read The Nation. And believes it. Sad.

[joesanunu]

And this is crystal clear.

The man has nothing to hide or being afraid to testify.

We all know the reasons of that crackdown and we also know that the reds were responsible for what happened.

Anarchy is not acceptable and will be tolerated the same way if happens again.

All other excuses and crying by certain members should be ignored.

Live fire zones set up in the middle of the city, over 100,00 live rounds fired by the army and over 2,500 high velocity sniper rounds fired, over 90 people murdered (including those cowering in the temple) and several thousands injured - nothing to hide?

How is it that the Yellows (PAD, PITAK SIAM, PDRC) have spent far more time protesting in the streets (and airport) yet the military has never felt the need to go out and slaughter them?

Anarchy is not acceptable? <deleted> was it that Suthep and his merry mob of Southern thugs were doing? Your double standards defy logic.

People in the streets fighting for their freedom get massacred by their own military and you side with the killers - despicable.

What on earth are you going on about, do you know the difference between an assault rifle and a microphone

In a normal society everyone has the right to protest - it is not Anarchy until it becomes Anarchy - should the yellowshirts at the time have blocked the airport - probably not, did they kill anyone or were they armed - no, should they have been removed by riot police - well probably yes, what has this to do with the armed uprising in 2010 - absolutely nothing

The failure in almost every post you have made on this thread is to recognise the difference between peaceful demonstration no matter how big (no matter what form it takes) and a lethally armed uprising - the approach to deal with each situation will be vastly different - if you cannot recognise that then you are either just plain stupid or have an agenda

As soon as it was established that some of the redshirt protestors in 2010 were armed and active then that was a game changer, after that people there had a choice - leave and be safe - stay and be part of it and risk being shot

When someone aims and fires an assault rifle and misses the target you then have a high velocity bullet on the loose, where it ends up is quite frankly in the lap of the gods, taking one example were a nurse was shot dead in a temple - did the army target her and shoot her - personally I very much doubt that, if they did then they should be in court facing murder charges, did armed men run to the temple for cover after shooting at the army or were they shooting from the temple - I believe they did and the nurse that was shot was not specifically targeted - she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time

I personally have experience of civil unrest at a level similar or worse to that of 2010 in Bangkok and one thing I know for sure regardless - if someone points a gun at me I will do my very best to shoot them dead without a second thought and remove the threat to myself and others - it is that simple

did they kill anyone or were they armed - no

You should do some more serious reading. The Yellow Guards at the airport were ALL armed. They attacked and shot up police vehicles, and even a news truck. Did they kill anyone? Why don't you ask the family of the dead Yellow who was found in a back room of the airport, wrapped in plastic and canvas, and then stashed away. When they took over Gvt House, they armed themselves with anything and everything they could get their hands on. One of their "supporters" was killed when explosives they were carrying detonated.

During the last protests, there were countless reports of PDRM (yellow) thug guards beating and shooting innocent people for something as simple as moving a cone out of the way. Peaceful? Oh, yeah, that sounds like a real peaceful group.

I'm not taking the Red side, but some of you seriously seem to think the Yellows all stood around holding hands and singing songs, when the reality is that they were, and are, just as violent as the Reds. Unfortunately, those wearing yellow tinted glasses and see this, and won't accept it as truth to their ears.

I was at both protest sites often. The yellow side was a nasty bunch. Their guards all had weapons, machetes, sharpened steel spears disguised as flagpoles, clubs, slingshots and black shirt security.

Many here don't realize the local papers didn't cover the yellow violence and exaggerated the red sides actions.

You need to read the stuff they are hiding to make an educated comment here.

[FangFerang]

"“May I ask you one question. Were there armed men among the protesters – the men in black who fired at the troops? If there were, the issue was over.”"

Um, no "the issue was not over" PM. Six armed men do not give your army vindication to slaughter people in a temple, a Wat for Buddha's sake! Nor does that give your army license to kill journalists, nurses and children.

Nor does it vindicate the slaughters of civilians in the 1970's (the Student Uprising, whose annual remembrance was cancelled by you and your junta) and 1980's (another killing field where the military slaughtered civilians and never could justify it).... all done by the very people who promoted you.

"Don't you understand?" Prayuth asked. Only pro-junta polls, no political gatherings unless it furthers our agenda, and no corruption we do not approve of. Stop acting like it is big news. This is the 18th coup; we would think you would have gotten used to it by now."

Edited February 27, 2015 by FangFerang

[canuckamuck]

Those of you that still have emotional one sided opinions about Thaksin, pro or con. Are you stupid or just ignorant?

[bikerbri]

There is an urgent need for the Government to show the Thai people and the international community that it acts even handedly when it comes to passing judgments relating to the treatment of demonstrators. It has yet to be proved if the need to show even handed treatment will be converted to actions .The Killing of unarmed people, by the armed forces, while sheltering in a temple seems to have been forgotten by the PM,who seems think its ok for the security forces to return fire when it seems they are allegedly under fire from demonstrators. There can be no excuse for the indiscriminate killing of unarmed civilians by any army and any morally inclined Government would not try to find one.

Edited February 27, 2015 by bikerbri